News
Oct 02
Large vessel in gulf surrounded by oil slick.

Oil Explorer: We’ve Got Tourism, Fishing Covered

Oct. 5, 2020 – Neil Hartnell, The Tribune

A Bahamas-based oil explorer yesterday reassured that the insurance coverage for its first well will cover any tourism or fisheries losses “in the highly unlikely event” of any spill or environmental impact.

Roberta Quant, Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) environmental scientist, told Tribune Business it had obtained protection “considerably in excess of the minimum levels of cover required by The government” for the Perseverance One well that will be drilled in waters some 91 miles to the west of Andros near the maritime boundary with Cuba.

In written replies to this newspaper’s questions, Ms Quant said the well’s location was not in a Marine Protected Area (MPA) as suggested by environmental activists, adding that its location was some 85 miles from Cay Sal and had been subjected to intense scrutiny that showed “there are no sensitive environmental receptors anywhere near the drill site”.

Oil and feathers on white sand beach
“Beach Oil”, by Deepwater Horizon Response, licensed under CC BY 2.0